D32 Discover Elixir to Life

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Reality of Llfe-Living is a Choice -Desire Life Not Death

Contents – Pg 1-17, Posted on December 16, 2021

1 Invitation; 1.01 Life Unasked –Choose Life; 1.01.1 True Believers are Children of God; 1.02 Your  Choice Dream Father; 1.02.1God is Loving and Faithful;

1.1 Great Controversy Big Picture; 1.1.1 Where is God? 1.1.1.1 The Creation Story- Perfect Beginning- Need of  Saviour; 1.1.1.1.01 Interlude  - The Original Perfect Creation of Humanity; 1.1.1.1.01.1 The Creation Process of Earth and Humanity; 1.1.1.1.01.2  Creation of Mankind – Adam  and Sabbath; 1.1.1.1.01.3 Corruption of the Perfect  Earth- The Fall of Man; 1.1.1.1.2 God is Love- Gift of Free Will to Choose; 1.1.1.2 Satan Behind  All  Suffering; 1.1.1.2.1 Satan’s Battle Strategies; 1.1.1.2.2  Overcoming Satan by Surrender to Jesus; 1.1.1.3 Moses in Israel’s Deliverance from Slavery; 1.1.1.3.1 God’s Call to Moses- The Burning Bush (Exo 3:2); 1.1.1.4 The Victory on the Cross; 1.1.1.4.1 Final Judgment and Grand Restoration; 1.1.1.4.2  The Eden to Eden  Perspective;

1. Invitation

Death brings home the ‘yearning* for life’. D31- “Discover Mystery of Death”, shares about the revealed truth that man’s first death is just a deep sleep for those who are in love with God, the heavenly Father. The word of God opens up the hope that humans are created with the gift of life that need not end with extinction Therefore, life is a choice, which is the subject for D32.

Is it possible for us to live on forever? Christians believe that God had intended men that He created to live on forever if he so chooses. Can this be true ? Is there proof?

The only way to prove it is by the written word in the Bible. Do you know that this ancient  book was written by more than 40 authors spanning over 1500 years, is the world's best-selling, most translated, and most widely distributed book. (more than 5 billions). Over 100 million Bibles are sold or given away for free every year in the world, according to The Economist.

D32 covers, the declared personality of the Father in heaven, the explanation for the chaos and sufferings in the world, and outline the necessities and urgency, now, to make the right choice for life in the midst of the C-19- Omicron crisis message.

(Note: ‘yearning* for life’ - People who are critically ill struggle to hang on to life. There is this inert desire to choose life when we are on the verge of dying. And to embrace longevity and youth people who are living spend large sums of money to delay the inevitable- death. They buy skin creams, get face lifts, exercise, use dietary supplements and multivitamins and follow proper health principles. All in the hope of cheating death a little while longer. However, sooner or later everyone must face the reality of their mortality.  Many cultures have traditions about life-giving trees and fountains of eternal youth. Yet no one has been able to find them because they are looking in the wrong places as in the case of Emperor Qin Shi Huang who vainly attempted to seek the elixir of life.  

Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259-210 B.C) was impressed deep in his heart of the futility in his life of power, and riches. His legacies included the unification of diverse warring states, theGreat Wall of China and a massive new national road system, as well as the city-sized mausoleum guarded by the life-sized Terracotta Army. He was in a position to search for the meaning of life if at the end of his life’s journey was to end with death.

No one told Qin Shi Huang that the elusive elixir of life that he vainly looked for was already revealed in the later days of the great king, King Solomon (970- 930/1 B.C.) Will the Chinese race making up one-fifth of the world’s population be still ignorant of the good news which was revealed to King Solomon? Solomon repented in his old age and left us his testimony in Ecclesiastes that  “ the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.” Ecc9:5  “neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun” Ecc9:6. Most significantly he concluded with  “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” - Ecc 12:13-14)

From the literature of ancient history we know that Jesus, the Son of God conquered death and that for those who believed by faith would die with the hope that we will be resurrected in the second coming of Jesus Christ

Only the Bible can tell us of the tree of life and to go to the fountain of youth, Jesus Christ)

1.01 Life Unasked –Choose Life    

None of us asked to be here, did we? We didn’t choose to come into existence any more than we chose where and when we were born and who our parents were. It was the same with Adam and Eve. They no more choose to be created by God than did a leaf, a rock, or a mountain.

As human beings, we have been given not just existence (a rock has existence), and not just life (an amoeba has life), but life as rational free beings (made in the image of God.) But we didn’t choose to come into existence as rational free beings made in the image of God, either. What God does offer us, however, is the choice to remain in existence—that is, to choose to have life, eternal life, in Him, which is what we can have because of Jesus and His death on the cross.

Since the beginning of history, the Bible is about a cosmic struggle ( the great controversy) between God, with His law of light and life, and Satan, with his way of death and darkness.  This great controversy (discussed later below) explains the origin of sin  and why there are increasing  chaos  causing pains, suffering and death in the world and we are caught up in this battle  between Satan and Christ. This is the reason why we have the vital task to choose who we believe. As were Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Israel is challenged by God to make a choice between two ways. However, there is this problem that if the people choose the wrong way, they will lose their freedom and really not be able to choose at all. Life is the issue at stake. (Note: Satan has also confounded the world with the idea of evolution, and  the existence of many gods and spirits, which will be dispelled when we understand the great controversy story. It is the truth that will free us from the lies of Satan. God wants us to choose life with Him. He has given us the freedom to choose based on the evidence revealed in the Bible story)

The word of God as revealed in the Bible is absolute truth for Apostle Paul says “God cannot lie,” in His promise of eternal life, “before the world began.” (Tit 1:2)  God, Himself  declares  He created everything  ( Gen 1:1) we see and experience in life., “ For I am the Lord, I change not ..” ( Mal 3:6) “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Rev 1:8.

1.01.1 True Believers are Children of God

Jesus, the Son of God, our Saviour, taking up the true relationship of a human being teaches In the sermon on the Mount of Blessing:

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Mat 5:48 ), God, the Father requires perfection from His redeemed family Jesus calls for perfection in character building while we on earth in this life He tells us we are sons and daughters of God. He is our example. For thirty years He lived the life of a perfect man  meeting the highest standard of perfection. ( Letter 69, 1897)  He thus refuted every false  charges of Satan who says that God’s law could not be obeyed .

Jesus also teaches us the manner to ask God, the Father, for His help in prayer (Mat 6:9-13).  We must be instant in prayer in the work of heart –keeping, unwearied in petitioning the throne of grace for assistance when we are in need.. He again reminded His disciples on this: “And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” Luk 11:2.   

1.02 Your Choice Dream Father

Who would you desire to be your true life father? Is your dream father the one you can totally trust and depend on?  He is to provide all things I need, reliable, kind, loving, good, generous, full of knowledge, friendly, approachable and happy.

Now consider the attributes of God, the heavenly Father.

1.02.1God is Loving and Faithful

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxwzq1PJImM  ( 6:05) Character of God;  Premiered Jul 1, 2020,  BibleProject-  concise video covering foundational description of God's attributes that illustrates what God values and why he acts the way He does.)

The Bible is a collection of many ancient Israelites scrolls and together they are telling one unified story. In Genesis, God chooses one family, the Israelites from among the nations and promises that He is going to rescue the whole world through this family somehow and Genesis ends with this family in Egypt. Generations later, God had to rescue Israel  when they are persecuted  and become slaves by the new Pharaoh of Egypt . God leads them to Mount Sinai where they camp out for a year.

Exodus , the second book, documents two large movements. The first involves the rescue Israel from slavery in Egypt. The second movement  involves the actual ceremony where the Israelites agree to be God’s partners and God sets up the terms of the relationship starting with the 10 commandments. The first two are Don’t give your allegiance to other gods and don’t make any idol images of God. Then God shows Moses detailed blueprints for building this sacred home that God can come and live among them. This involves a long narrative of building that sacred home, the tabernacle.

Exo 34:6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 

Exo 34:7  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

These two important sentences , Exo 34:6-7, declares the character of God are referenced and quoted over 20 times within the Bible. God invites the Israelites into a partnership called a covenant so that they can be shaped by His values and character and represent God to all the other nations exactly 

But, while Moses has gone up on the mountain to write down the partnership agreement , the Israelites at the base of the mountain violate the first two commands.and breaking the covenant vows by worshipping a molted golden bull  image while the ceremony last 40 days is still going on.

God is hurt and angry and He warns Moses that this betrayal will keep on happening. God is ready to call it quits. But what about His promise to rescue the world through them which is what Moses bring up. Is God going to end the partnership which would be fair or would He be faithful to His promise to Abraham and show them mercy.

His words in the statement reflect the very tension between God’s mercy and His justice. He is compassionate and graceful which in Hebrew is connected with loyal love and faithfulness and in addition the fifth attribute that God is slow to anger. The second half describes God maintaining loyal love for thousands and how He is going to remain loyal to people who keeps rebelling against Him by forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. But God’s forgiveness doesn’t mean people can do whatever they wanted. God’s mercy is balanced.

Yet, in what follows He won’t declare innocent the guilty. He’ll bring the iniquities of the father’s upon the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation. The generation who repeats their ancestor’s rebellion against God will get what they deserve. But this would only be a small number in contrast to the massive numbers who are loyal to God. So while God is slow to anger, He is also just. This is how a faithful and loyal God deals with such a rebellious people. This is the challenge God faces in this story. It’s the same challenge in the whole biblical story as He works to rescue the world through this one chosen family.

The five attributes that God declares to Moses about  Himself  are: God  is compassionate, gracious , slow to anger, overflowing with love and faithfulness.   Each one leads us deeper into the character of God and into the story of the Bible.

1.1 Great Controversy Big Picture

The Great Controversy (between light and darkness, god and evil)) is about the entire history of sin from its beginning in heaven until it is eradicated in the new earth. The earth is the theater for the whole universe to witness and learn God’s way in dealing with the problem of sin and have it eradicated for good. Satan, the originator of sin in heaven, is permitted to pursue his evil ways so that sin can run its full course to manifest its devastation and suffering. When it is fully revealed and filled up God’s cup of wrath, judgment will be executed. Then the universe will know why sin must be shunned and how it can be overcome to worship God with devotion and love. This is the answer when unbelievers uphold that there is no god based on the human suffering in the world.  (Here is an illustration of how the C-19 should be allowed to run its full course with the assurance that God is in control. We should not be meddling with the DNA to affect a cure and insisting that it is the only way and in the process bring about more infectious mutations, hopefully not more deadly. We should learn from the lesson of the past in the way the Spanish flu exhausted itself in 1918.)

The Book of Job has provided the historical evidence of God permitting Satan to test Job’s righteousness and loyalty to God by persecuting and assault ing Job, but not killing him outright.. Satan set about by first killing all his children, and destroys all his property and then to afflict him with the most painful boils. Satan was defeated when Job refused to curse God and said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.” Job 13:15.”For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: “Job 19:25-26.  

The battle began in heaven where Satan, as Lucifer, the highest ranking and most decorated angel in heaven ( Eze 28: 13-15), incited one third of the angels under his charge against Christ instead of obeying and exalting Him as the Ark Angel (Commander-in-Chief)( Isa 14:12-14).They were thus cast down  by Christ and His loyal angels. (Rev 12:9-10)

On earth, disguised as the dazzling enchanting  talking serpent, Satan, beguiled Eve into believing that God restriction on eating the fruit of the tree of good and evil is to prevent them to be as wise as God and she will not die by eating the fruit. Eve was given the simple test on a eating directive from God. It involved a decision underlying  the choice of eat and die, or obey God by not eating so as to live and not die.

Adam was saddened by Eve breaking God’s simple and plain command. But he chose to compromise by also eating the fruit offered by Eve, seeing that she did not actually die from eating the forbidden fruit.  There is the vital lesson from this narrative-, a present truth for all ages.

 God’s word is sure and there is no excuse for any occasion to compromise. Adam and Eve in fact did die in the day they ate the fruit, because to God “a day is a thousand years” ( 2Pet 3:8; Psa 90:4) Adam died at the age of 930 years ( Gen 5:5) The oldest man, Methuselah, the  eighteen generation, died at 969 years old. His name in Hebrew, bore a message that on hie death, the flood would come.   

God’s word cannot be compromised based only on our human experience of sight, sound and emotions. We must at every moment, particularly in trying times and situations remember that we must choose life, and remember the life source , to trust in the provider of that life, our Creator and Sustainer.

This may be most applicable in the prolonging and trying case of the mandated C-19 vaccination that has divided the population into two camps on principle of freedom of free choice and conscience. We need to seek God, the Father, in prayer, as Jesus taught us , asking for His direction and protection from the evil and unjust manner we are being persecuted with. We can take heart in this passage from the pen of inspiration:

“When men, being in power, oppress and spoil their fellow men, and no earthly tribunal can be found to do justice, God will interpose in behalf of those who cannot defend themselves. He will punish for every act of oppression. No earthly wisdom can secure wrongdoers against the judgments of heaven. And when men put their trust in earthly powers instead of their Maker, when they become lifted up in pride and self-confidence, God will in His own time make them to be despised” (Letter 122, 1900).  {7BC 946.6} 

Eve (for repentant punishment ) as the mother of all living ( Gen 3:20) was to conceive and bring forth new life  to continue the cycle of life in fulfilling  God will to replenish the earth and perpetuate life. (Gen 3:16) The consequence is manifested in the human race being infected with the propensity to sin with a fallen nature. Thus, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;´ Rom 3:23. For this very purpose in the salvation of men doomed to eternal death that Jesus, the Son of God  was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 Jn 3:5; Luk 10:18; Jn 16:11; Heb 2:4)

A great controversy is raging in this universe that impacts each of our lives as we are caught in the crossfire.

We all have a part to play in this great controversy and why it is crucial to know this in order to make the right choice , the decision to choose life. Bible prophecy reveals what is going on and how we can take our stand on the winning side in this great controversy.

1.1.1 Where is God?

(“Beyond Tomorrow, pt 3- a Chaotic World- Where is God?” by Daniel Pel- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPQqHiGQkWU&t=392s (53:09) (Watch this directly  if you prefer so that you can skim over the written notes.)

If God is a God of love, why is there so much suffering in our world today? Millions throughout time have asked this classical question. Tucked between the stories, parables, and prophecies of the Bible we find revealing truths that open our minds to the reality of a universal conflict between good and evil that brings us closer to answering this question.

Key points for further reading, study and contemplation are suggested as follows

1.1.1.1 The Creation Story- Perfect Beginning- Need of  Saviour

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”Genesis 1:31. {CTr 8.1}

God is the master artist. He has created the human beings and proclaims everything very good. So what happened to this world in the chaotic state it is in, with all the tragedies, pain and suffering and sorrow we see and experience.?

God created the world and everything in it a sequence of six days and He rested on the seventh day ( Gen 1) that gives us the seven day weekly cycle.  He spoke everything into existence, but on the sixth day  He personally made man in God’s image, as the crownship of His creation.(Gen 1:26). “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Gen 2:7. 

How beautiful the earth was when it came from the Creator’s hand! God presented before the universe a world in which even His all-seeing eye could find no spot or stain, no defect or crookedness. Each part of His creation occupied the place assigned it and answered the purpose for which it was created. Like the parts of some great machine, part fitted to part, and all was in perfect harmony. . . . There was no disease . . . and the vegetable kingdom was without taint of corruption. God looked upon the work of His hands wrought out by Christ and pronounced it “very good.” He looked upon a perfect world, in which there was no trace of sin,  no imperfection.  {CTr 8.2}

The interlude is provided next  as it is considered expedient  to amplify on the original perfect state of the planet Earth  before  Satan tempted Adam and Eve to disbelieve God’s word and fell in sin,

1.1.1.1.01 Interlude  - The Original Perfect Creation of Humanity

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HnYsc5zRqk (37:50) 891 - How Did I Get Here? / The Consistency of God - Butch Jensen Apr 25, 2017)

Have you ever wondered where humanity originated? Are we the result of evolution? The Bible states that we were created. Is this true? How does the Creation story provide evidence that God cannot lie? How can we know that God is trustworthy? Is He truly consistent and dependable? Does God still intervene on behalf of His people today, or is He withdrawn and indifferent to the plight of humanity? Malachi 3:6 states that God does not change. How can we verify this statement through the historical record of Creation? Is there physical proof that God is still at work today? God, the Master of Creation, is also the Master of your future. Discover why God cannot lie, and why He is worth trusting.

In the sincere and earnest seeking the truth that is in the word of God we have this expanded picture of where we come from.

1.1.1.1.01.1 The Creation Process of Earth and Humanity

God gave us a beginning in the incredible creation process in six consecutive days that was in the first seven day week by which God gives the ability to understand where we came from and what has since happen as prophesy unfolds. God, the Father, created earth and everything in it through His Son who then came to dwell with us to manifest  the Love of God in creating mankind to replace the evil angels that were cast out of heaven.  This is to dispel the lie that we did not come from the big bang theory or from scum pond as an amoeba evolving over millions of years into an ape  from which we became human beings. The culmination of creation was to provide something for somebody to come (humanity) There must be consistency in the law of God, the law of nature, with substances that are working in harmony together  So God made the earth that will replenish itself. God created something from nothing by speaking them into existence. But He made man in His image as something personal and special. Nature is His handiwork as displayed in the beautify Sunrise and Sunset. In the vastness  of the sky we see  the Moon, Sun and Stars, God uses the moon to mark the month and the Sun to mark the year. Canis Majoris, the biggest star in the Milky Way, is 2800 times the diameter of the Sun, gives us an idea how big its creator God is, and He is creating all the time. Voyager I, launched into space in 1977is now 12.5 billion miles from Earth. It took the signal 7 days get Voyager I to turn around and take a picture of Earth which sits in one ray of our Sun. The universe that God created is huge and He gives us the understanding that He is keeping all the stars and everything in order and keeping an eye over us and what is happening in the world.

The process of creation is orderly and systematic: 1. First day-  Light  to dispel darkness; 2. Second day- Separation of water from land with air in the atmosphere; 3.Third day- Vegetation and Fruit trees on the land; 4. Fourth day- Lights in the atmosphere, the starry heaven with the Moon , Sun and Stars; 5. Fifth day-  moving creatures in the waters and flying birds and insects in the air; 6. Sixth day- land creatures, animals and insects;  and the final act is the molding of Adam out of the dust of the ground and breathe into his nostril the breath of life and man become a living soul (Gen 1:26)  The physical aspect of creation by Christ is finished and ; 7. Seventh day- God rested  and created the space of time  to mark His perfect creative work  to be celebrated in perpetuity as a mark of His creative work.

1.1.1.1.01.2  Creation of Mankind – Adam  and Sabbath

Adam immediately in receiving life is told that he is given dominion on all the things that is in nature and to tend and care for them. Adam has the ability to understand God said it, he accepted it, believed it and lived it. So that is what God tells us to do, He asks us to accept what He is doing for us right from creating us, gives us dominion  to care of everything in nature.

God created everything and Adam  has to accept everything  by complete faith in God that He created all those thing and they are a gift from God to him immediately on his creation. He was told to name every creature on earth. God then said, I created you and now I want you to watch me create something for us, the Sabbath day of rest. a space of time that I can spend time with you and you with me. Adam does not have to accept the Sabbath by faith because Adam and Eve are witnesses to God creating the Sabbath day on the seventh day of Creation Week. Thus Adam and Eve did not have to work before they rest, In the memorilisation of God rest ing in His creative work. God says I will come and dwell with you, spend time with you, and explaining creation to you.  Therefore by faith we accept Sabbath aa a day God hallowed it and set it apart. And God blessed the seventhh day, and sanctified it. Because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. This provides for us the ability to rest with God, to come away from all that we do, to give God the authority in our live, to rule in our life.

1.1.1.1.01.3 Corruption of the Perfect  Earth- The Fall of Man

In the course of time, we come to a point in the whole scheme of life, we get to the fall of man, in order to get to the understanding of the great controversy started in heaven that is continued on earth and what God is doing in His infinite wisdom in upholding Justice and order in His government.  If we don’t understand how we got here then there is not a message in the world that makes any sense. If we believed we came from the amoeba pond as by many in the Darwinian theory of evolution, what message would you believe.  (Similarly, the believe in the big bang theory)

If we have man, created in God’s image and placed in the garden to tend and care over the things in the garden, and then he is evicted out of the garden so that they could not eat from the tree of life and perpetuate sin forever, Therefore, we have a story and a salvation message to tell fallen humanity of the way to get back into the garden. This is the great controversy story. Interlude ends and the main story continues …

But a change came. Satan tempted Adam, and he fell. He who in heaven had become disloyal and had been cast out made lying reports of God to the beings He had created, and they listened to his reports and believed his lie. And sin entered the world, and death by sin.—Letter 23, 1903 (see also Review and Herald, July 21, 1904). {CTr 8.3}

When Christ saw that there was no human being able to be humanity’s intercessor, He Himself entered the fierce conflict and battled with Satan. The First Begotten of God was the only one who could liberate those who by Adam’s sin had been brought in subjection to Satan. {CTr 8.4}

The Son of God gave Satan every opportunity to try all his arts upon Him. The enemy had tempted the angels in heaven, and afterward the first Adam. Adam fell, and Satan supposed he could succeed in ensnaring Christ after He assumed humanity. All the fallen host looked upon this engagement as an opportunity to gain the supremacy over Christ. They had longed for a chance to show their enmity against God. When the lips of Christ were sealed in death, Satan and his angels imagined that they had obtained the victory. . . {CTr 8.5}

In the death struggle the Son of God could rely only upon His heavenly Father. All was by faith. He Himself was a ransom, a gift, given for the freeing of the captives. By His own arm He has brought salvation to humanity; but at what a cost to Himself!—Manuscript 125, 1901 (The Upward Look, p. 357). {CTr 8.6}

1.1.1.1.2 God is Love- Gift of Free Will to Choose  

How can a perfectly created  angel, like Lucifer, sin? The Bible tells us that God is love. Love by definition is allowing a free will. In order for love to be real love it must be allowed to say ‘no’.

Love requites freedom. Freedom involves risk. Risk entails moral responsibility. Moral responsibility requires moral choice.  The three options available to God in Expression of Love: 1-Create nothing at, all; 2 Create beings who were not free; 3. Create beings who were free- free to love or not to love(This is the option God chose as He give all humanity free will to choose.)

Lucifer was created with the ability to choose this own path and that is exactly what happened. This is revealed in Isa 14:12-15) as lesson and warning for all times. Isaiah under inspiration gives us a glimpse into the very heart of Lucifer, infested with iniquity in this exalted angel. He was endowed with great power and selfishly wanted exaltation to be honoured even above his creator and he rebelled against his maker.

Jesus has explained this to His disciples when they did not fully understand the parable on the “Tares”. 

1.1.1.2 Satan Behind  All  Suffering

Jesus parable teaching “Tares” (Matt 13:24-30, 37-43) explains that Satan is the enemy working behind the scene who is causing all the suffering in the world

"Another parable put He forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also."  {COL 70.1}

"The field," Christ said, "is the world." But we must understand this as signifying the church of Christ in the world. The parable is a description of that which pertains to the kingdom of God, His work of salvation of men; and this work is accomplished through the church. True, the Holy Spirit has gone out into all the world; everywhere it is moving upon the hearts of men; but it is in the church that we are to grow and ripen for the garner of God.  {COL 70.2} 

"He that sowed the good seed is the Son of man. . . . The good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one." The good seed represents those who are born of the word of God, the truth. The tares represent a class who are the fruit or embodiment of error, of false principles. "The enemy that sowed them is the devil." Neither God nor His angels ever sowed a seed that would produce a tare. The tares are always sown by Satan, the enemy of God and man.  {COL 70.3} 

Satan as the enemy of God in the great conflict is doing all he can to twist the very truth of God. He wants us to believe that it is all about us, about self, all about exaltation, about pride. Yet God amidst all of this is giving the message to the contrary. He is giving an invitation to each one of us that are caught in this crossfire to believe in Him.

1.1.1.2.1 Satan’s Battle Strategies

The first and most successful  strategy was spreading the lie that God limits you by the warning given to Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the one tree in the garden of Eden,. God had said “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” Gen 2:17. This is the lie that will be repeated to this very day. So many people don’t want to follow God and turn away from the Christian faith  because they believe this lie spread by Satan that God would limit them and they lose their freedom.   

But this is totally the wrong representation of the character of God. God gives and never stop giving of His love.The Scripture tells us God does not limit but is willing to give us everything. The cross of Calvary is the strongest evidence that God  did not hold back even that whom He loves most, His only begotten Son but sent Him into this world to die on behalf of you and me. We have sinned ans all deserved to die because of our sins. Christ came, paid the price for you and me in order to impart to us the promise of eternal life.

The second lie  Satan has managed to bring into the world  even to this very day is  telling Eve that she will not surely die  (Gen 3:2-4) . This is openly saying that God’s word cannot be trusted. We hear many secular and worldly people using this distrust that the truth in God’s word is a crutch for the weak hearted.

But God’s word can be trusted and He has never broken a promise. All the prophecies have historically come  to pass that have been given  and certainly those that are still for the future will come to pass as well.

The third lie that we find in the dialogue between Eve and the serpent  is “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”  Gen 3:5 Satan is saying that God is selfish. He does not want you to experience the same that He is experiencing.

These three lies are the main strategies that was implemented in the very beginning of the great controversy  here on earth at this point of time when humanity is about to make a decision that is going to plunge this world into this great controversy. WE all have a decision to make as to who we believe. Many do not know or are bothered to find out about this universal battle that we are engaged in. They are those who by default is in Satan’s camp.   

So God has the loving responsibility to manifest to the world that the lies of Satan not true and how to overcome Satan and his lies. This is explained by Paul  saying that Christ , who is God was willing to give up everything that He had for you and for me.

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Christ died on the cross for you and for me.. It is the very contrast of the path of Lucifer. Lucifer wanted to ascend upward and even wanted to be like the Most High. The result of the self exaltation is eventual be brought down and humbled.  But the result of Christ condescension that “God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; “ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Php 2:9-11.   

In a nutshell we have the great controversy encapsulated in the two Scripture s passages in Isa 14;12-15 and Phi 2:5-11

1.1.1.2.2  Overcoming Satan by Surrender to Jesus

Lucifer as the highest ranking angel no longer wanted to serve but only be served  and loved, Because of this self problem, Lucifer rebelled against his maker. This is the universal battle between good ( God) and evil (Lucifer, who became Satan). This great controversy enters into every aspect of our lives. We are caught in the cross fire and there is no escape  from this ongoing war in the universe. It enters into every phases of our lives, It involves all the choices that we make which is the root of the very problem that humanity faces today. Most of these lives problems  have to do with fulfilling self  first and the pride that is associated with it.

This problem is self perpetuated and this is the object lesson for all fallen humanity, we need to see the hopeless situation we are in based on all the trials in life. Without knowing about this war, we are by default , on the side of Satan. Christ is offering the invitation to anyone to surrender our rights to Him and He will fight our battle for us.

If you surrender your pride, by letting go of the staff and taking off the shoes in the presence of God then eventuall y you will be exalted. You will receive the promise of eternal life. You will be one with Christ and one with the heavenly Father.

1.1.1.3 Moses in Israel’s Deliverance from Slavery

This is the life lesson in mankind history as narrated in the Old Testament for us to emulate so that all may be able to know and be rehearsing it for our final escape from this earth at the end of time. Moses was the very man that God chose to be a leader of his people. In such a crucial time in earth’s history in which God’s people were enslaved in Egypt, He sends Moses into Egypt to deliver them out of Egypt in answer to their cry to God and He does mighty miracles through Moses for us to strengthen our faith in God as the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.

Moses stands without peers as the servant  of God, as historian,poet, philosopher, prophet , legislator and General and leader of over a million people. He is inspired to write six books of the Old Testament. Exodus describes his role in Israel’s deliverance from their bondage to slavery in Egypt. No contemporary, non-biblical records of the Exodus exist as the Egyptians never recorded events unfavourable to them. Christ personally prepares Moses from his birth, mission, death and resurrection as the representative of the first righteous who served God , died the first death and is resurrected by Christ.  (The study of Genesis and Exodus is vital to our faith in the absolute truth in God’s word.) 

1.1.1.3.1 God’s Call to Moses- The Burning Bush (Exo 3:2)

When Moses was called he didn’t really feel comfortable that he could  do the things God had asked him to do. One day as a shepherd tending his sheep in the wilderness, he sees a spectacularlyever burning bush  On drawing nearer then suddenly God speaks to him. God asks him to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground and to let go his staff.  These two items , the sandals on the feet and the staff in his hands are a shepherd’s  only protection in the wilderness. God is asking him to let go of his own protection as he is protected in God’s presence.

Could it be that in our life we have accumulated around us a way of protecting ourselves, a way of guarding our reputation, a way of being the first in many instances of our life. Yet God is asking us to do is to let go, to surrender. It is to lay down the self reputation and  to allow Christ to come into the heart , allow God to change our lives so that we can be in the safest place ever, in the very presence of God. What a different life it would be if we could surrender to God and allow Him to work His works in us. In the midst of this great controversy, this is exactly what we are invited to do , to surrender  our lives to Christ, to be one with Him so that when we surrender and humble ourselves that He in due time will exalt us.

1.1.1.4 The Victory on the Cross

Joh 12:31  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. Joh 12:32  And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. Joh 12:33  This he said, signifying what death he should die. 

By being lifted on the cross, Christ is expressing the very character before the universe a display of who God truly is; a God of love. A God that gives you everything, even the gift of His only begotten Son . A God  whose word can be trusted. All the prophecies came to pass in the very prophecies came to pass in the very death of Jesus. God is selfless and not selfish as the cross shows us everything. He I will to give up everything for our salvation. Jesus when He died on the cross paid the penalty of sin for you and for me. So when we come to Him, to the foot of the cross, we can lay down our sins and receive from Him the gift of eternal life This is the most beautiful transaction in the universe where you give the worse of yourself and  you receive the best from heaven. You receive strength to live a new way. You receive a new heart. You receive a promise that you will spend eternity with your maker and your Saviour.

Therefore, in the midst of this controversy we have to make the decision  on which your destiny is decided for good.  On whose side are you going to be found in this great controversy?

1.1.1.4.1 Final Judgment and Grand Restoration

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This is the love of God that extends this invitation to each one of us today.  When we actually believe this promise and we follow Jesus in our lives we will be looking at the world in a totally different way.

When people look at this world and wonder why there’s so much  tragedy and calamity, they wonder what the future is going to hold and there is a lot of fear in the hearts of man. But we don’t need to be afraid of the future because the Scriptures let us know what the future holds. We can be assured that one day God is going to renew this planet and makes all things new and everyone who so chooses life can be part of that restoration. This restoration can even start today. We have a hope that pushes us forward. We know that athere are tares and weed, but there is also wheat. There is also the good. There is also the  beautiful plan of God, the cross that we cling to and hold on to.  In the midst of tragedy.

Bible prophecy tells us “all the world wondered after the beast” (Rev 13:3) In following in his footstep of rebellion. But Christ has given us another option. He has given us another chance as God Himself sent His only begotten Son to die. This tells us that God is not detached from  from thesuffering in this world. Many pagan religions worship the Godbeing they worship that is detached from anything that is going on in the human realm. But this is not the way in the Christian story. God does not just look down upon the suffering of humanity, but He steps into the suffering of humanity. God the Father and Christ the Son are pleading with humanity. They go through suffering. Christ Himself was put to death on the cross. We worship a God that can feel with your sorrows, that knows us even better than ourselves and to whom we can come with confidence in the midst of this conflict.

1.1.1.4.2  The Eden to Eden  Perspective

The Eden to Eden in perspective  is about the the book of Genesis describing  in the first chapter the beautiful cration of God. Then Chapter Two elaborates upon that beautiful creation that was  created very good. But in third chapter conflict is pictured. That is the beginning of this ongoing battle that reaches to the end of the Bible in the book of Revelation. In Rev 21 and 22, the last two chapters, picture a perfect world with the perfect God where there is no suffering and no sin., a picture of the world fully restored.it its original beauty.

In the garden of Eden in the beginning, there was a tree and it was called the Tree of Life for the perpetuation of life. The other tree was the tree of knowledge  of good and evil. That same Tree of Life we are also to find in the very end  in the world restored.

In this life we are born into, we are like journeyinh between those two trees. From Genesis 3, the outbreak of the conflict of the great controversy all the way to Rev 20  where we find the last battle battle taking place, the last battle when all is resolved  and all is fished. We have  right in between the story in which we all exist is the story of the great controversy.

But  the question is on which side do we find ourselves?

There is no neutral  ground. There is no place in which we can distance ourselves from the reality of this conflict because  in all choices that we make and in everything we do we are taking a stand whether we know it or not. .

The only way, the only remedy is to allow our pride and self and exaltion and sin to be placed at the very feet of Jesus that we will receive from Him a humble spirit . This is the spirit that will walk in obedience to the ways and will of God. We will find ourselves living at the abundant life. The life of the follower of God is not a boring life, not a sad life, It is the life God has intended for you   He knows the very best for each of us. He wants the very best for us and He wants to give us that abundant life.right now right here.as we prepare for His soon coming. Therefore in the midst of this conflict you can put His character on display.and thus glory God in heaven that other may see and wants to join us in worship of the true God.  

End of D31 –17 pages.

Posted  on November 14, 2021 by Tsc at singtsc@yahoo.com

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